"Frustrated but engaged": Gen Z Arizonans plan to vote, but they're not happy about it
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A majority of Arizona's Gen Z voters plan to cast a ballot this November — but they're not happy with their options, according to a new ASU survey.
Why it matters: Young voters wield growing political power and could be the decision makers in the tight races expected in Arizona this year.
- Gen Z voters between ages 20 and 30 represent 18% of registered voters in Arizona and participated in the 2022 midterm election at a higher rate than previous generations at their age, according to ASU.
The big picture: Gen Z voters are more likely to register as "independent" or "no party declared" than Arizona voters over age 30, and are overwhelmingly skeptical of how well the current American political system works, ASU researchers found in a new report titled "Frustrated but Engaged."
What they did: In May, ASU's Center for an Independent and Sustainable Democracy interviewed 1,315 Arizona registered voters between ages 20 and 30.
- The interviewees reflected the overall Gen Z breakdown by party identification, Latino origin and educational attainment, and they included a representative sample of people who did and did not vote in 2022.
Stunning stat: Four out of five voters interviewed said the two major parties aren't compatible with people their age or the country's best interests.
What they're saying: "Arizona Gen Z voters are ready to step in to take over as the boomers fade away, but they are profoundly frustrated with the political world that has been handed down to them," report co-author Thom Reilly said in a press release. "They are not ready to give up on democracy, but they want to participate on their own terms."
Between the lines: Two out of three respondents said they will "definitely" vote in November.
- Of voters surveyed who did not cast a ballot in 2022, 43% said they'd be more likely to participate this year if there were candidates better aligned with their values.
Zoom out: President Biden, 81, and former President Trump, 78, are stepping up their courtship of disillusioned and disinterested Gen Z and millennial voters, tapping into social media, sneaker fashion and other cultural touchstones to try to reach the coveted 18-34 age group.
What we're watching: Young voters were a key demographic that pushed Biden to victory in 2020, but Trump appears to be making inroads, according to several recent polls.